IND vs WI 1st Test, Day-1: India kicked off their Test series against the West Indies in dominant fashion on Thursday, with opener KL Rahul anchoring the innings with a composed half-century on Day 1 of the first Test.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, India’s bowling attack made light work of the West Indies batting lineup, bundling them out for just 162 in 44.1 overs. The Indian bowlers, led by relentless pace and disciplined spin, gave their team a perfect platform to take early control of the match.
When it was India’s turn to bat, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul looked in fine touch as they navigated the West Indian attack with patience and precision. The duo put on a solid 68-run stand for the first wicket, ensuring no early hiccups in India’s reply.
Jaiswal, aggressive as always, played some fluent strokes during his 36-run knock, but eventually fell just as the partnership was beginning to look threatening.
However, the calm and composed KL Rahul continued to pile on the runs, reaching his half-century in style. At stumps on Day 1, India were comfortably placed at 121 for 2, trailing by just 41 runs with eight wickets still in hand.
Rahul’s unbeaten 53 off 102 balls, laced with elegant drives and clever footwork, was a reminder of his ability to absorb pressure and anchor the innings in red-ball cricket – something India will bank on in this series.
A Strong Start for India
The first day clearly belonged to India. From wrapping up the West Indies cheaply to establishing a steady reply with the bat, the team has ticked most boxes early in this contest.
As the match heads into Day 2, India will aim to build a strong first-innings lead, with Rahul looking well-set and plenty of batting firepower still to come.
If this start is anything to go by, it looks like India are well on their way to dominating the opening Test.